Inspiration Happens Haphazardly

True inspiration may come in many forms. Sometimes it needs a complex set of emotions, sometimes it may require only a glance at something which was created with the utmost of care and sense of aesthetics. In both cases, I urge realizing that it comes haphazardly.

My point being, we are sometimes trying too hard to get inspired, whereas the act of inspiration never requires details at a crisp rate.

Not only does it lack complexity, but more often than not it thrives on redundancy of the same one. Being a personal development aficionado myself, I could tell you that you will get inspired the most by reading a book, or having a deep and profound conversation. The truth though, on the other hand, is really not that fancy.

Inspiration doesn’t recognize absolutes

Albeit being tremendously influenced by Robin Sharma at one period of my life, I cannot second his notion that a large library should replace a large TV. I’m into books, sure, but I cannot seem to agree with dealing in absolutes.

His way, you see, is that we throw out the TV and refine our inspirational well by tapping into the written word. And now I see why people are sometimes slightly repelled by personal development endeavors – it makes you choose, deal in absolutes, make radical and more often than not unnecessary changes.

You see, the creative spark may light itself in the most unusual of ways – no question there. Shakespeare dealt with low set of emotions and painted quite sinister and Machiavellian situations when he wrote his plays, and yet they are still waiting to be surpassed.

Personal development coaches nowadays urge “refinement” from all things “common” in the pursuit of improvement. But we have, time and again, one proof after another that inspiration occurs – once again – haphazardly.

Why not both – The books and the TV; thriving on refinement, as well as simplicity and flaws?

No, you don’t have to choose in order to be inspired!

I watched a movie yesterday, one from Tarantino (love this guy), and was amazed by what an artist he really is. A plot being set in the south right before the civil war, a slave-turned-bounty hunter, and Tarantino wrapping his hands around a western-like movie for the first time, you know what to expect. Saying that it was pretty graphic and violent is an understatement. But I will stop here as to keep this site PG-13.

The thing is that in between all that graphicness which is repelling to a certain demographic, and by degrees an increasingly badassery story, you can notice meticulously and incredibly written lines, top of the notch acting, and some bizarre situations that may as well struck a chord or two when it comes to inspiration.

And if this sometimes does the trick for me, who says that something unrelated and even bizarre can’t do it for you?

Whatever does the trick – keep it legal though

Inspiration happens haphazardly. Go for a walk and you get inspired; take pictures in nature and you get inspired; go to a theater and you get inspired; talk and you get inspired; see a man dressed like Panda doing something as bizarre as this and you get inspired; Fill in the blanks and you get inspired.

Forget about searching for an inspiration using a manual, even if it does have the “New York Times Bestseller” stamp on it. We all have a different trigger, and you may just as well start trying to discover yours. Inspiration happens haphazardly, and the creative spark can be light any which way that you find pleasing.

If you don’t believe me, here is what Sir Ken Robinson has to say about it:

“…In fact, creativity, which I define as the process of having original ideas that have value, more often than not comes about through the interaction of different disciplinary ways of seeing things.”
– Sir Ken Robinson

In short, you never know what combination of thought, emotion, movement or lack of it thereof may spark your creativity. So stop dealing in absolutes and start being curious while enjoying varieties.

Great post Slavko, inspiration comes from anywhere, I find it doesn’t matter what it is that I am doing, eating pizza, watching a movie, going for a walk or writing, inspiration comes when I allow my mind to be absorbed on one thing without all the other rubbish that usually haunts the mind throughout the day. It is often when the mind is not thinking thoughts are allowed to surface with great ideas and concepts that make me go wow.

When my mind is absorbed and focused on only one thing I am then able to see more of the bigger picture and take in the information better. I don’t think getting rid of the TV completely, or cutting something out of your life is the answer, for me it is quieting the mind and becoming lost in what it is you are doing then inspiration will suddenly happen.

Cannot agree more Andi. It is quite interesting to witness an idea developing from nowhere. And being a part of this creative process of writing and editing a blog it tends to develop even more, as if it was a reflex. I guess letting yourself practice calming your thoughts and allowing new ones to emerge takes its tool over time. Being curious and sincerely interested in something is the key I suppose.

Thank you Sapna. I notice that whenever I have other things on my mind I cannot spark the creative process even if I do have all of the day in front of me. But when things get clear, and thoughts sorted out, I can double the creative input in half the time and come up with surprisingly good ideas.